Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday said furthering women’s political participation to ensure that decision-making processes are participatory, responsive, equitable and inclusive one of the founding principles of the party.
This was stated, according to the NC spokesperson, by the party state women’s wing president Advocate Shameema Firdous, while welcoming number of women from Khag, Beerwah into the party fold here at the party head quarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar. Among others Party’s Women’s wing Provincial President, Kashmir Er. Sabiya Qadri was also present on the occasion. The joining ceremony was organized by the District President Minority Cell Budgam Vijay Kumar Koul.
Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, Shameema Firdous said that there was a great need to make administration and political class more accountable to women’s aspirations and basic needs. “Political accountability to women will begin with increasing the number of women in decision-making positions, but it doesn’t end there. What is required, are gender-sensitive governance reforms that will make all elected officials more effective at promoting gender equality in public policy and ensuring their implementation. To achieve that end, the women’s wing is religiously following the directions of the party leadership Dr Farooq sahib, and Omar sahib and focusing on entry of more women from varied socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds into the party fold with an aim of catalyzing wide-ranging, long-term impacts,” she said.
Ensuring respect for women in the context of their domestic and social life, Firdous said was one of the directive principles of the Party’s progressive and emancipatory Naya Kashmir Manifesto. “Not even a day passes, when we don’t receive communication from educated women, college going girl students, artisan women, and house wives wanting to join the party fold. Our doors are open for all. We will and we are in fact receiving everyone with open arms. Having more women as political leaders will create ripple effect and yield Socio- economic benefits for our mothers and sisters across J&K,” she added.
On the occasion, Er Sabiya Qadri said that the quandary in which J&K finds itself in requires women to be bolder than ever before. “It is imperative that we remember Madre Maharban, a woman of extraordinary courage on this day and try to mold ourselves into her values and ideals. It is elevating to see women from across J&K joining the NC and bravely taking the centre stage in strengthening the underway efforts of Dr Farooq sahib for securing the unique political, constitutional, cultural and historical identity of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
